Improvement in apparatus for manufacture of dashes



. 2 'sh eens- -sneet -1. j J. WHITE.

Apparatus for Manufacture of Dashes.

No. 207,785. Patented Sept; 3'. 1878.

- v if I I Ihveniorf #a. WZ/

N.PETERS. FHOYD-LITNOGRAFNER, WASWNG'I'ONv By C, a

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Apparatus for Manufacture of Dashes.

w No. 207,785. Patented Sept. 3, 1878.

- west;-

MZQ% UNITED; STATE-S 3 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. WHITE, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO PETERS LEATHER DASHCOMPANY,

1 OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURE OF DASHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 207,785, datedSeptember 3, 1878'; application filed August 3, 1877.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JOHN E. WHITE, of the city of Columbus, county ofFranklin, and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Machines for the Manufac ture of Dashes, of which the following is aspecification:

My improvements relate to that class of dashes which consists of a framecovered with leather, cloth, or other flexible material.

In the manufacture of suchdashes it is customary to form the materialfor the cover into a bag closed on three edges, and then to insert thedash-frame within said cover, and then to close the opening throughwhich the frame was admitted by sewing up the same.

Heretofore great difficulty has been expe rienced in retaining the frameagainst that closed edge of the bag or cover opposite to that whereinthe said frame is inserted, and also keeping the sides of the coversufficiently taut during the operation of stitching or fastening themtogether as that when the stitchin g is finished they shall present asmooth and stiif surface and the frame shall be tightly secured inposition.

My invention consists of a device which pinches together the two lips oredges of the cover between which the frame has been inserted, and at thesame time presses the frame home against that closed edge of the coveropposite to which it (said frame) has entered, and tightly stretches thesides of the cover, thereby obviating the difficulty aforementioned, andalso enabling the open lips of the edge of the dash-cover to beconveniently closed by sewing or other means, thereby greatlyfacilitating the manufacture of dashes and cheapening the cost ofproducing them.

In the accompanying drawings,Figure 1 is a plan view of the most commonform of my invention, and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are modifications of thedevice shown in Fig. 1. 1

A represents one of the jaws of the clamp B, and A (see Fig. 3) theother jaw. These jaws are hinged or jointed together at the back,although they may be made of one continuous piece of spring metal. Oneor more of these clamps may be employed in the same device. The numberof clamps to be employed erated on. I

For operating on a short dash-two clamps are preferred, while inoperating .on a long dash four clamps are preferred, although one clampcan be made to do the work.

- The clamps are -united together by a con nectin g brace or rod, whichis secured either to their top or bottom jaws. Where but one pair ofclamps are employed they are usually arranged as shown in Fig. 3, Sheet2.

There is a suitable space left between the clamps where that portion ofthe brace C (which extends between them) is thick enough to receive afemale screw, which engages the thread of a rod, D, provided at its rearend with a crank, E, or other suitable device, for rotating it, and atits front end with a swiveled nut, F, whose front end is hollowed outsufficiently to fit and overlap the edge of the frame.

In the upper side of brace C is stationed, in a perpendicular position,the screw G. Fitting loosely thereon, so as not to engage the teeth ofsaid screw G, is the clamp-brace H. The latter is sufficiently long toallow its ends each to reach near or at the middle of its respective jawA. Preferably the ends of this clampbrace H are turned down and beveledto an edge, so as to enable them to be pressed firmly upon the jawswithout danger of slipping thereon.

v A female screw in the end of tightening-lever I engages the screw Gabove clamp-brace H, the rest of'the length of lever I being employed asa hand-lever to operate it. This lever is preferably provided on eachside of the screw G with a boss or inclined stud largement, J.

WVhere two pairs of clamps are employed, (see Fig. 1,) I preferablyextend the rod C, and attach the upper or lower jaws of each clampthereto in substantially the same manner as heretofore described.

The mechanism for closing the jaws of each pair of clamps is preferablythe same as that already described. The rod D, however, preferablyengages a female screw in brace C at a point midway between the pairs ofclamps, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The mode in which my invention operates is, as follows, viz: Thedash-cover is fastened or closed together at that edge which is oppositeto that wherein the frame is inserted, and the right and left hand edgesare also preferably closed where this can conveniently be done. Thedash-frame is inserted between the sides of the cover and pressed intoplace until its edge has passed about an inch within the open lips orunsewed edges of the side of the cover. These lips of the cover are thenpassed between the jaws A A of each clamp. The brace H is then placed.as shown, and the lever I screwed down on upright G until its bossescome into contact with brace H, when it will tighten the clamps upon theedges of the cover. It is to be rotated till the clamps pinch the edgesof the cover tightly enough so as not to slip while I in the foregoingdevices may be changed without altering the principles of theiroperation.

the frame is stretched.

The rod D, which has previously been screwed back far enough to notinterfere with the previous operation of clamping the jaws on the cover,is now screwed forward and the swivel-nut F adjusted against theadjacent edge of the frame. The rod D is again screwed forward, and thenpresses the frame firmly and completely home against the opposing seamor closed edge of the cover. and also thoroughly stretches the sides ofthe cover. While the clamps are still attached the lips of theunfastened edge of the cover are fastened together, usually bystitching, my device holding every portion thereof in perfect shape forthe stitching or fastening to be best performed. After the edges havebeen fastened, my device is instantly disconnected from the cover byturning the lever I onequarter of a revolution, thus compelling thebosses J to slip off from clamp-brace H and allowing the jaws toseparate. When it is desirable to press the frame home and stretch thecover by a method other than by bringing the pressure of the screw tobear against the edge of the frame adjacent to the clamps, a veryconvenient mode is shown in Fig. 2, where the screw D is lengthened andthe female screw in the brace-rod O is so placed that this screw Dpasses outside of the cover. The forward end of this screw is swiveledin a socket, M, to whose forward end is attached one jaw of clamp K. Theother jaw is hinged or united to the first-named jaw at M, both jaws attheir inner rear ends being provided with enlargements or bosses N. Ascrew, N, engaging female screws in both jaws beyond where the cover andframe will come, is the preferable mechanism employed to close themtogether.

pressed home and the cover In operating this form of my invention Iproceed as follows: The dash-frame having been arranged and placedtogether in the same manner as if the form of my invention shown inFigs. 1 or 3 were to be used, I place the closed edge of the coverbetween the jaws of clamp K, taking care that the bosses N shall falljust inside the edge or rail of the dash. I then thoroughly tighten theclamp by means of screw N. Screw D is then rotated so as to bringbetween the jaws of clamps B lips of the open edge of the cover adjacentto them. The clamps B are then tightened, as aforementioned. The screw Dis now advanced, thereby pressing the frame home and stretching thecover, as aforementioned, in readiness for stitching it, as beforespecified.

Of course, the number of clamps employed Where single clamps areemployed a convenient modification of the same is shown.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-- 1. In combination with the screw D, a clamp consisting of one ormore pairs of jaws, the line of meeting of whose grasping-edges is insubstantially the same plane with the axis of said screw.

2. A clamp consisting of a single pair of jaws A A, provided with adevice for tightenin g them, in combination with rod D, passing betweenthem at and inthe line of their connection and the lineof the meeting oftheir grasping edges.

3. The clamping device consisting of a central screw, D, brace O, andthe two pairs of jaws A A, screw G,elamp -braee: H, and lever I,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

at. A device for tightening the clamps, consisting of brace O, screw G,clamp-brace H, and lever I, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

5. The clamping device consisting of the central screw, D, and brace (3,provided on either side with a clamp consisting of two pairs of jaws, AA, screw G, clamp-brace H, and lever I, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

6. The combination of lever I, screw G, and clamp-brace H, substantiallyas and for the purposes specified.

7. The lever I, provided with bosses J, substantially as and for thepurposes specified.

JOHN E. WHITE.

NVi'tnesses O. G. Pnrnns, F. P. JENKINS.

